A friend gave this to me for this election season. It is a prayer written by Lloyd John Olgivy who was chaplain of the U.S. Senate. It seems appropriate on many levels.

Almighty God, Sovereign of our nation, thank You for the privilege of living in a free land where I have the opportunity to vote. Work through the election process so that people will be elected who will glorify You. Strengthen their commitment to trust You to guide them as they confront the problems and claim Your best for their realm of leadership. May they never forget that they are in office by Your choice and are accountable to You for how they lead. May the immense responsibilities they assume, and the vows they make when sworn into office, ring them to their knees with profound humility and unprecedented openness to You.

Save them from the seduction of power, the addiction of popularity, and the aggrandizement of pride. Lord, keep their priorities straight: You and their families first; the good of the nation second; the consensus around truth third; party loyalties fourth; and personal success last of all. May they never forget that they have been elected to serve and not be served. Consistently replenish the reserves of strength and courage so often drained by pressure and stress. Anoint their minds with our Spirit and guide them as they seek to know and do Your will in the crucial issues before my city, region, and nation. I firmly believe that this can be our country’s finest hour awaiting leaders imbued with Your power.”

Ruth Graham

“Transparent” is the word most people use to describe Ruth Graham.

No stranger to heartache, she seeks to provide a Biblical perspective to her journey of faith. She is warm and talks openly about her own need for a safe place as she journeyed through her husband’s infidelities, her subsequent depression, her divorces, her teenage daughter’s two unplanned pregnancies, another daughter’s bulimia, her son’s battle with drugs, grandson's special needs and returning to school at age 40.

Although born into the "famous" Graham family Ruth did not feel she had a safe place to unburden the secrets of her life. She felt she had to project and image and wear a mask that she "had it all together". She had to meet others' expectations of her. It was not until a mid-life crisis did that she fully discover the unconditional love and grace of God. Her life's passion is to connect people to that same grace and love she found, no matter who they are or what sin.

Ruth is an experienced conference speaker and Bible teacher. She has appeared on a variety of radio and television shows including: Good Morning, America, The Hour of Power, Focus on the Family, Moody Broadcasting, Fox & Friends, CBN, Life Today and CNN. She has worked in publishing for over 14 years and is the founder of the Ruth Graham & Friends Ministry.

Ruth has three grown children and nine grandchildren. She lives in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. Her life Bible verse is John 1:16.